Aviation
minister Hadi Sirika revealed the news in a press conference at the biennial
Farnborough Airshow, which is held southwest of London and where billions of
dollars of aerospace deals are traditionally announced.
"I am
pleased to tell you that we are finally on track to launching a new national
flag carrier for our country: Nigeria Air," Sirika announced.
The
government "has a moral and social responsibility to create a new national
carrier", he told reporters, adding that there was "a huge need in
demand".
"The
business case for this... has been completed and we are now in the phase of the
procurement" of aircraft.
And in a
tweet, he added: "We've been talking to Airbus and Boeing ... regarding
the aircraft for #NigeriaAir, and we will be making announcements very soon. We
are currently negotiating."
Nigeria Air
will be a Public and Private Partnership that will, however, be managed fully
by the private sector.
The
government will not own more than five percent of the group, which will be run
on a commercial basis.
The national
carrier will have domestic, regional and global operations, while the
government is now seeking a strategic partner to invest in, develop and operate
it.
Some 1,500
flying routes were considered and 81 have now been selected.
Sirika added
that the airline would allow the nation to tap into the potential of its
growing middle class in a population of more than 180 million people.
"Nigeria
is a very responsible aviation nation ... and so we know the game," he
noted.
The new
carrier, whose tagline is 'Bringing Nigeria closer to the world', aims to
launch its first services in December 2018.
The Nigerian
air traffic market of more than 15 million passengers is forecast to grow at
five percent per year through to 2036, according to the government.
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